Machine for delivering articles



June 5, 1928.

s. H. VARNDELL HACHINE FOR DELIVERING ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledAug. 4 1927 June 5,192a 1,672,236

sfH. VARNDELL MACHINE FOR DELIVERING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 4, 1927 4Sheets-Sheet 2 June 5, 1928. 1,672,236

- s. H. VARNDELL MACHINE FOR DELIVERING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 4, 1927 4sheets-sheet 5 June 5, 1928. 1,672,236

S. H. VARNDELL MACHINE FOR DELIVERING ARTICLES Filed Aug. 4, 1927 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 5,

i UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE,

SYDNEY HERBERT airman; n or cnariisxia. ENGLAND, .assleivon T0 nocmnmAnn wrmrmson mnmemm) LIMITED, on TIPTUN, mourn;

MAGHINE FOR DELIVERING ARTICLES.-

i} Application filed August 4,1927. Serial. No. 210,618, and in. GreatBritain Amgust. 13-, 1 926:

This invention relates more especially to machines for delivering towelsfor use in public lavatories such as those of railway coaches; but isapplicable to other machines for the delivery of other articles. l

The type of machine to which the invention relates comprises a set ofshelves placed one above another in an inner frame or casing and eachpivoted in relation thereto by a rearward pivot axis, such axisconsisting usually of a bar which is rigid with the shelf and passes atits ends through holes in the side wallsof the casing; and the inventionhas for its object to provide improved means by which the shelves arereleased, one by one, by means of a single slider.

According. to this invention eachshelf, which is pivoted to turn aboutits rear edge, is provided with an arm at one end thereof projecting atright angles to the shelf axis said arm being. supported by a bracketcarried on the end of. a bar parallel tothe shelfand movable endwise inrelation to the frame ofthe machine, but prevented from turning inrelation thereto. Eachsa-id bar, at the end. remote from the bracket, isfree to move backward and forward horizontally and the rear edge of eachshelf, near the end opposite the bracketis provided with an upwardlyextending arm adapted to press back the. corresponding end of the barimmediately above it when the shelf is up; and. means are providedwhereby, when thesai'd shelf falls, the said end of the bar is movedforward into thepath of a part which is moved by the operator; so thatthe falling of each shelf from the bottom successively upwards, sets theapparatus for releasingthe shelf above.

A convenient application of the invention is described with referencetothe drawing's herewith, of which Figure 1 is a front elevation: ofthe; machine in its box or casing but with the front cover of the boxremoved to show parts within.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the machine as seen from its right handside.

Figure 3 is an elevation of't'he machine as seen from the left handside.

Figure 4 1s a sectional plan view to anenlarged scale, the section beingtaken on the line 4, 4, of FlgUIG 1 and Figure 5' is a vertical sectiontaken on the line 5, 5, of Figure 1, andjlool'zing'in the direction ofthe arrow of that figure In thesedrawings: A is a box or casing in whichis mounted an inner frame com- 4 prising two vertical walls B B C', C',are sheet metal shelves each of which is attached at its rear edge to around spindle D which passes at its ends through the frame walls B B.Each spindle D at its left hand end is provided with a forwardarm (seeespecially Figure 3') which" is normally sup} ported by a bracket Fcarried on the end of a square bar G which at its left hand end,u

in the frame wall B, but all the other bars G at their right han'dendspass through a horizontal slot H (see Figure 5) sothat these bars can bemoved backwards and forwards at their right hand ends. They are alsofree to' move endwise inthe frame members B B. Eachspindle D rigid withand supporting a shelf is provided near its right hand end with two armsone of which J normally vertical while the other K is normallysubstantially horizontal and projects rearwarolly. Each; bar G isconstantly pressed in a forward and right hand direc tion by means of aspring L (see especial-1y Figure connecting between the extreme righthand end of the bar G and a fixed ver tical post M. Each bar G has anabutment face N with which. when it is forward inits slot, a verticalplate 0 engages, the plate being pivoted t'o turri about averti'cal'axis P to which is attached a lever arm, Q (see 7 on the pusher ro'd Rfor op'era'tionfrom outside the front of the machine.

The action of the apparatus is as follows :-Assuming that each shelfcarries a towel, that is to say that the machine is full, coin havingbeen inserted and the" coin-freed apparatus released the operatorpresses the knob Y inwards and this causes the push-rod R to press backthe lever Q (see Figure 4) which gives the plate 0 a movement inwards inthe direction of the arrow of Figure 4. The plate 0 then presses in thelowermost bar G which alone lies in its path. All the other bars G areback out of the path of the plate 0 because each of them is held back-bythe vertical arm J of the shelf below. The plate 0, by pressing thelowermost bar G to the left (as seen in Figure 1) causes its bracket Fto be moved out until it assumes the position indicated by dotted linesat F in Figure 4, so that it no longer supports the arm E of thelowermost shelf. The latter therefore falls and the respective towelgoes down the chute T from the bottom of which it can be reached by theoperator. The bottom shelf having fallen, its arm J moves forward and nolonger holds back the right hand end of the bar G immediately abovewhose bracket F supports the arm E of the bottom shelf but one. This barG is also then positively pressed forward by the corresponding arm K.The abutment at'its right hand end is therefore now in the path oftheplate O so that at the next operation of the machine it will be movedto the left and thus release the second shelf. It will be clearlyunderstood now that each operation of the machine causes a shelf to falland the shelf which falls is always the lowest of those which have notalready fallen. Each bar G after its operation is prevented fromreturning to its normal position endwise, by the respective arm E whichhas fallen between the respective bracket F and the outer surface of thewall all the other mechanisms remaining station ary.

The uppermost shelf, also carries arms J and K of which the arm Jnormally keeps back a pin a of a lever 6 (see Figure 2), but when thetop shelf falls the arm K presses forward against the pin a of the lever6 which is fulcrumed at 0 and has a main arm 03. This latter is pivotedto a link 6 which is pivoted at its lower end to an arm f on a shortshaft 9 which carries at its other end an arm it with a finger (seeFigure 1). When the top shelf falls the pin a goes forwards either ofits own accord or by pressure from the arm K thus depressing the link 6which has the effect of causing the finger to enter the coin chute andprevent the insertion of a-coin into the machine.

Any suitable device such as a vertical bar with fingers may be providedfor lifting the shelves; but it is found in practice that the mostconvenient method is toraise them by hand. Starting with the bottomshelf they can all be restored to their normal position simply bysweeping the fingers over their front edges upwards. As each shelf comesto its horizontal position its arm E allows the respective bracket F andbar Gr above to go back to the normal and the right hand end of each barG moves back under the pressure, of the arm J of the respective shelf.

If, when an attendant comes to the machine, there are still some of theshelves up and therefore holding towels, and it is desired to releasethese shelves in order to change. the stock, this can be readily donewithout the insertion of a coin simply by pressing in the plate 0.

Having fully described. my invention what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. A machine for delivering articles, comprising aset of shelves on which the articles are placed, each shelf beingpivoted to turn about its rear edge, an arm at one end of each shelfprojecting at right angles to the shelf axis, a bracketin respect ofeach shelf for supporting the said arm, a bar which carries the saidbracket at one end and is movable endwise in relation to the frame ofthe machine to free the bracket fromthe arm to allow the respectiveshelf to fall, each said bar except the lowermost at the end remote fromthe bracket being mounted so as to be free to move backwards andforwards horizontally, means whereby said end of the bar is pressed backwhen the shelf below is raised, and means whereby, when the said shelffalls, said end of the bar is moved 7 forward into the path of a partwhich is moved by the operator, whereby the fall of each shelf from thebottom successively upwards sets the apparatus for releasing the shelfabove.

2. A machine for delivering articles, comprising a set of shelves onwhich the articles arm to allow the respective shelf to fall,

each said bar except the lowermost at the end remote from the bracketbeing mounted so as to be free to iinove backwards and forwardshorizontally, an upwardly extending arm projecting from the rear edge ofeach shelf near the end opposite to the bracket adapted to press backthe corresponding end of the bar immediately above it when the shelf isup, and means whereby, when the said shelf falls, the said end of thebar is moved forward into the path of a part which is moved by theoperator, whereby the fall of each shelf, from the bottom successivelyaxis, a bracket for supporting: the said arm, 7 a bar which carries" thesaid bracket at one end and is movable endwise in relationtothe framethe machine to" free the blttckt from. the arm to allbw the respectiveshelf" to fal l', each said bar' exce t the lowermost" attheend remotefrom the bracket being mounted so as to be free to move backwards andforwards horizontally, means whereby said end of the bar is pressedbackwhenthe shelf below is raised, means whereby, when the said shelffalls, the said end of the bar is moved forward into the path of a partwhich is coin-freed and moved by the operator, whereby the fall of eachshelf, from the bottom successively upward, sets the apparatus forreleasing the shelf above, an arm projecting at right angles from therearward edge of the uppermost shelf, and means operated by such arm forpreventing the insertion of a further coin in the cam chute.

4. A machine for delivering articles comprising a set of shelves onwhich the articles are placed each shelf being pivoted to turn about itsrear edge, an arm at one end of each shelf projecting at right angles tothe shelf axis and parallel to the shelf, a bracket in respect ofeachshelf for supporting the said arm, a bar which carries the said bracketat one end and is movable endwise in relation to the frame of themachine to free the bracket from the arm to allow the respective shelfto fall, each said bar except the lowermost at the end remote from thebracket being mounted so as to be free to move backwards and forwardshorizontally, means whereby said end of the bar is pressed back when theshelf below is raised, and means whereby, when the said shelf falls, thesaid end of the bar is moved forward into the path of a part which ismoved by the operator, whereby the fall of each shelf, from the bottomsuccessively upward, sets the apparatus for releasing the shelf above.

5. A machine for delivering articles comprising a set of shelves onwhich the articles are placed, each shelf being pivoted to turn aboutits rear edge, an arm at one end of each shelf projecting at rightangles tothe shelf axis, a bracket in respect of each shelf forsupporting the said arm, a bar which carries the said bracket at one endand is movable endwise in relation to the frame of the machine to freethe bracket from the arm to allow the respective shelf to fall, said armbeing adapted to fall between said bracket and the frame ofthe machineto preventthe return of the'bracket when the op crating means arereleased; each said bar except the lowermost "at" the end remote fromthe bracket being mounted so as to be free to move backwards andforwards horrzontally, means whereby said end of the bar is pressed backwhen the shelf below is raised. and means whereby, when the said shelffalls, said end of the tar is-moved for-' ward into the path of a partwhich is moved by the operator, whereby the fall of each shelf from the'bottom successively upwards; sets tli-eapparatus for'relea'sing theshelf above; v j

G. A machine for delivering articles com? p-risi nga set of shelves onwhich the articles are placed, eachshelf being pivoted to turn aboutitsrear-edge, an arm at one end of each shelf projecting at right anglesto the shelf axis, a bracket in respect of each shelf for supporting thesaid arm, a bar which carries the said bracket'at one end and is movableendwise in relation to the frame of the machine to free the bracket fromthe arm to allow the respective shelf to fall, each said bar exceptthelowermost at the end remote from the bracket being mounted so as tobe free to move backwards and forwards horizontally, an upwardlyextending arm projecting from the rear edge of each shelf near the endopposite to the bracket adapted to pressback the corresponding end ofthe bar immediately above it when the shelf is up, means whereby, whenthe said shelf falls, the said end of the bar is moved forward into thepath of a part which is moved by the operator, whereby the fall of eachshelf, from the bottom successively upward, sets the apparatus forreleasing the shelf above, and a third arm normally projectingrearwardly from the rear edge ofeach shelf and near the end opposite tothe bracket, such third arm acting positively to move forward thecorresponding end of the bar immediate. ly above when the respectiveshelf falls.

7. A machine for delivering articles comprising, a set of shelves onwhich the articles are placed, each shelf being pivoted to turn aboutits rear edge, an arm at one end of each shelf projecting at rightangles from the shelf axis, a bracket in respect of each shelf forsupporting the said arm, a bar which carries the said bracket at one endand is movable endwise in relation to the frame of the machine to freethe bracket from the arm to allow the respective shelf to fall, eachsaid bar except the lowermost at the end remote from the bracket beingmounted so as to be free to move backwards and forwards horizontallymeans whereby said end of the bar is pressed back when the shelf belowis raised, means whereby, when the said shelf falls, the said end of thebar is moved forward into the path of a part which is moved by theoperator, whereby the fall of each shelf, from the bottom successivelyupward, sets. the apparatus for releasing the shelf above, and a springin respect of each bar said spring connected with the respective bar andalso connected at its other end to a fixed part of the machine andacting to return the bar to the normal position when the respectiveshelf. is raised to allow the bracket on the bar to move into positionto retain the arm of the shelf.

8. A machine for delivering articles, comprising a set of shelves onwhich the articles are placed, each shelf being pivoted to turn aboutits rear edge, an arm at one end of each shelf projecting at rightangles to the shelf axis, a bracket in respect of each shelf forsupporting the said arm, a bar which carries the said bracket at one endand is prevented from turning in relation to the said end of the bar ispressed back when the shelf below is raised, and means whereby, when thesaid shelf falls, the said end of the bar is moved forward into the pathof a part which is moved by the operator, whereby the fall of eachshelf, from the bottom succes-i sively upward, sets the apparatus forreleasing theshelf above. 1

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 19th day of July1927. 1

SYDNEY HERBERT VARNDELL,

